Canes Capture Class D Crown
DALTON, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Hurricanes boys basketball team used a fast start to claim the Western Massachusetts Class D title with a 62-47 win over the Mount Everett Eagles.
The Hurricanes came out sharp, jumping to a 15-4 lead while Mount Everett struggled to settle in. Blake Mazzeo set the tone early, knocking down three 3-pointers in the opening quarter. He finished with 16 points, while Adan Wicks led all scorers with 24. Terrell Johnson and Qwanell Bradley each added nine as Hoosac carried a 10-point lead after the first quarter.
Defensively, the Hurricanes limited Mount Everett to one shot per possession for most of the night, a key emphasis heading into the game.
“Our game plan was to eliminate their rebounding,” Hoosac Valley coach Matt Larabee said. “Our big guys did a great job with that. Terrell was huge on the boards and made his presence felt blocking shots.”
Even with a few careless turnovers, Hoosac stayed in control. Wicks caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 11 points, including three from beyond the arc. He finished with six three-pointers. Bradley impacted the game in other ways, controlling tempo, defending, and creating opportunities for teammates.
“Qwanell controls the offense for us and finds guys in the right place at the right time,” Larabee said.
This season marked Larabee’s first year leading the Hurricanes, making the title even more meaningful.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “I’ve been part of a lot of these runs with Coach [Bill] Robinson as an assistant and JV coach. To get one as the head coach is special.”
Hoosac took a 13-point lead into halftime and never allowed Mount Everett to seriously threaten. Each time the Eagles tried to build momentum, the Hurricanes responded. A 17-point cushion entering the fourth quarter proved more than enough, as Mount Everett’s late push inside came too late.
Darius Taliaferro and Brady Carpenter scored 10 points apiece to lead the Eagles, who finished by outscoring the Hurricanes, 16-14, in the fourth quarter.
Mount Everett (18-3) and Hoosac Valley (13-8) now turn their focus to the Division 5 State Tournament next week. The seedings will be released on Saturday.